Photos & Roundup: October 16 – Royal Visit Australia – Day 1

It’s an exciting day, and it’s not just because it’s the start of the tour! This morning Kensington Palace confirmed that The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expecting a baby in Spring of 2019! How unexpected and exciting! Rumors kicked into high gear last Friday at Princess Eugenie’s wedding, and reports say that’s when Harry and Meghan actually informed the family of the pregnancy. Looks like 2019 will be another busy year for the couple and all us Royal Watchers! Now onto Royal Visit Australia!

It is currently (October, 16 2018) in Sydney, Australia and the official start of the tour. Harry and Meghan arrived yesterday to Admiralty House, their official home away from home for this leg of the tour. The couple reportedly spent the day relaxing and prepping for their busy schedule. You can view those photos here. The Duke and Duchess had a packed day with a variety of different engagements including visiting the Taronga Zoo and Sydney Opera House.

OFFICIAL WELCOMING: The Duke and Duchess of Sussex kicked off the royal tour around 9:00 AM (Sydney, Australia) at the Admiralty House where the couple were officially welcomed by Australia’s Governor General Peter Cosgrove and his wife Lynne Cosgrove with a formal reception. The Governor General and his wife Lynne welcomed Harry and Meghan with Akubra hats and the first set of gifts for the new baby including a pair of baby UGG boots and a stuffed kangaroo and it’s joey! During the reception The Duke and Duchess met with representatives from each of the eighteen countries who are participating in the Invictus Games Sydney 2018 will be present.

VIDEOS: Official Welcome To Australia

TARONGA ZOO: For their first stop The Duke and Duchess of Sussex visited the Taronga Zoo to officially open the new Taronga Institute of Science and Learning with New South Wales (NSW) Premier. The Duke and Duchess will meet two koalas and their joeys that are part of the Zoo’s breeding programme, Their Royal Highnesses seemed to be really taken with the koalas as they spent ample amount of time petting them. The pair concluded their visit in the laboratory where they met female conservation scientists who are working on efforts to reduce illegal wildlife trafficking.

VIDEOS: Meeting Koalas At Toranga Zoo

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE: The next stop was to the Sydney Opera House! Arriving by boat the duo sailed across Sydney Harbour to the Sydney Opera House where they viewed a rehearsal of Spirit 2018 by the Bangarra Dance Theatre, an internationally acclaimed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander modern dance company. Upon their departure, the pair walked along the Opera House forecourt, taking the opportunity to meet and shake hands with many members of the public who offered lots of congratulations, flowers, and gifts for the expecting Duchess.

EVENING RECEPTION: The first day of the visit concluded with a Reception hosted by the Governor-General at Admiralty House, attended by Australians from a broad range of sectors including charity and community, business and industry, arts and culture, sport and entertainment.

GALLERY LINK
Engagements In 2018 > Commonwealth Tour > October 15 | Commonwealth Tour – Day 1 – Set 1
Engagements In 2018 > Commonwealth Tour > October 15 | Commonwealth Tour – Day 1 – Set 2

Who Is Meghan?

The Duchess of Sussex, born Meghan Markle, married Prince Harry at St George’s Chapel, Windsor in May 2018. The couple’s official residence is Kensington Palace. As well as undertaking royal duties in support of The Queen, both in the UK and overseas, The Duchess devotes her time to supporting a number of charities and organisations. From a young age, The Duchess had a keen awareness of social issues and actively participated in charitable work. Aged 11 she successfully campaigned for a company to alter their television advert that had used sexist language to sell washing-up liquid. Her Royal Highness also volunteered at a soup kitchen in Skid Row, Los Angeles from the age of 13-17. She continued to volunteer at the soup kitchen when she would return home to Los Angeles until the age of 22….Continue Reading…

Charities & Patronages

The Royal Foundation
Since: May 2018 – June 2019
The Royal Foundation of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry is the Patrons’ primary charitable vehicle, and hopes to become a leading philanthropic investor, effectively using its time and resources to create lasting change in targeted areas and geographies, based on need and on the interests of The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry. The Foundation will seek to invest in, or partner with, organisations with proven impact, using its profile and leverage to create a multiplier effect in resources, outcomes and knowledge.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
National Theatre
Since: January 2019
The National Theatre’s mission is to make world-class theatre that is entertaining, challenging and inspiring. And to make it for everyone. They aim to reach the widest possible audience, to be inclusive and diverse, and as national as possible. With a broad range of productions in London and across the UK. The National puts some of the nation’s leading artists on the world stage, with productions playing on Broadway and touring across the globe.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
The Association of Commonwealth Universities
Since: January 2019
The Association of Commonwealth Universities is the world’s first international university network, and is the only accredited organisation representing higher education across the Commonwealth. The ACU manages international scholarship schemes (including the UK government’s three major scholarship programmes and The Queen Elizabeth Commonwealth Scholarships), convene universities to address key policy challenges such as gender and equity, climate resilience, and peace and reconciliation, and promote the role of universities in delivering the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
Smart Works
Since: January 2019
Smart Works is a UK charity that provides high quality interview clothes and interview training to unemployed women in need. Women are referred to Smart Works from organisations such as job centres, work programmes, prisons, care homes, homeless shelters and mental health charities.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
Mayhew
Since: January 2019
Funded entirely by public donations Mayhew aims to promote animal welfare by delivering a broad range of community-based veterinary, care and education services in the UK and overseas. By recognizing that animal welfare issues and social welfare issues are linked Mayhew works to protect the bond vulnerable people, the elderly, the homeless and those suffering from mental health issues have with their animals. And by taking their educational initiatives out to the community they have a better chance of helping prevent cases of neglect, abandonment and cruelty.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts
The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust
Since: March 2019
The Queen’s Commonwealth Trust exists to champion, fund and connect young leaders around the world who are driving positive social change, serving their communities and providing hope, work and self-employment opportunities for others. As Vice-President of the Trust Meghan will highlight the Trust’s partnerships with young people across the Commonwealth, and in particular its work supporting women and girls.
Links: Official Site | Meghan’s Efforts

Projects

‘Together: Our Community Kitchen’ Cookbook
After working with the women of Hubb Community Kitchen The Duchess of Sussex suggested the idea of a charity cookbook that celebrates the power of cooking to bring people together. Supported by The Royal Foundation and published by Penguin Random House companies, ‘Together: Our Community Kitchen’ showcases over 50 recipes from women whose community was affected by the Grenfell Tower fire. Since the Together cookbook has been published, it has sold 130,000 copies worldwide. The resulting funds means the kitchen has been completely refurbished and is now open seven days a week

Smart Works Charity Capsule Collection
After working quietly with Smart Works for over a year The Duchess became aware of the difficulty of matching up the perfect work attire due to a range of mismatched colors and sizing. It was revealed in July 2019 that Marks & Spencer, John Lewis & Partners, Jigsaw, and designer Misha Nonoo would team up together to design a capsule collection of work wear clothing for the underprivileged women trying to secure employment. They will follow the “one-for-one model” model where an item from the collection purchased is an item donated to the Smart Works Charity.

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